Longleat Center Parcs, taking £600 a night to be on a 24hr building site! Aaagghh

[Mumblebeebee]

We are currently staying at Longleat centre parcs. Having saved for this for a year, it's costing an eye watering £600 a night for 4 nights. Total £2400.

What we weren't told was our villa was opposite a 24 hour construction site. Which, as I type is sounding like smashing bottles being thrown into a bottle bank crossed with several generators running.

I'm fuming, no sleep possible and we have 4 children to entertain tomorrow.

AIBU to have expected Center Parks not to have booked out our villa knowing this. Or at very least warned us.

Any advice? We've called customer services at 2am to be told that extra work was being carried out!

I'm not happy at all.

Just had a look at their Facebook page. Quite a few complaints about the new CP at Woburn and people saying they were offered derisory compensation on a discount on future stays or still waiting to hear back from customer services.

Here is what CP replied to someone's review. It's the bit in bold that makes me laugh. Upto 31 days to get back to people? That's outrageous.

I am sorry to hear of your disappointing experience, I have passed this on to our Guest Services Team who will investigate. Your comments are really valuable to us and will be dealt with as soon as possible. Depending on the investigation period, a member of the team will be in touch within the next 24 hours to 31 days. If you could please Private Message us with your booking reference number and email address?

CP are keen to charge 5** star prices for 2 star customer services and facilities. The OP has paid a lot of money for a holiday to suit her family circumstances and likes.

This is shocking - again, CP appears to be an expensive Butlins/Pontins type experience. I've yet so see anything to change my opinion of that...

OP - this is unbelievable. (1) Unacceptable behaviour for them to still rent out lodges where they know OVERNIGHT building work will be going on - the idea of Centre Parcs is peace and tranquil surroundings. You paid for an executive villa for the extra space and solitude - not building works overnight. (2) Utterly disgraceful that they have only offered a villa even closer to the noise or a refund if you leave now - so they require you to cancel your holiday with no replacement or leave. AT the very least they should refund, find you alternative accomodation on site or nearby with day passes for the rest of your holiday.

This is awful behaviour by Centre Parcs and a thread that actually would be useful for the Daily Fail to pick up for once..

Yes, when we got home I nearly wrote a bad review but decided not to bother. My best bit was lying entirely alone in a wild flower meadow reading a book although I can achieve that in my garden at home!

The username on the OP and the username on the 'updates' don't match. (Mumblebeebee / Mumblebeebees)

So what's going on there, then?

That pretty disgusting. She wants you to pack and leave.
But me, I'd pack and expect to get a good day at the park with the kids before leaving, go home and look at last minute holidays with Thomsons with the refund money and take them off for a nice 7 days sunny holiday to Spain or portugal or somewhere nice with a kids club so they can play.

'The username on the OP and the username on the 'updates' don't match. (Mumblebeebee / Mumblebeebees) So what's going on there, then'

They've obviously namechanged, maybe on a different thread too and didn't n/c exactly right back on this one. What do you think is going on?

What do you think is going on?

I have no idea, that's why I asked. Updates from the 'OP' start appearing under a slightly different username mid-thread, but with no explanation (e.g. forgot password and couldn't get back into original account).

It's not necessarily 'obvious' that they namechanged for a different thread. The new 'OP' could very easily be a fake. There have been cases in the past of people adopting a username very close to an existing one in order to post as if they are that user.

Contact details for their press office. Phone them! www.centerparcs.co.uk/press#/

Ah right an imposter masquerading as the op you think?

Far more likely my incorrect n/c theory when on several threads. Very easily done.

I'm also wondering why the OPs name has changed mid-way through the thread - very odd. OP has responded to say that she doesn't know why this has happened - well it could only have happened if she had forgotten her original user details and had to set up a new account or something like that, usernames don't suddenly change mid-thread?

OP have a look at www.pottersholidays.com/ - they seem to have excellent reviews, have heard about them several times on MNet when they've always been highly recommended.

Apparently they are family owned and service is a big deal to them, and it's 5*, food included so not quite the same as CP but similar and lots of included activities, not just the swimming.

I would ring them up. explain what has happened, ask if they have any availability for tonight and then tell CP that they need to refund you, not offer you a discount on a different holiday because you need a holiday now, you have found one and you will be going, plus charging them the additional fuel that you need to get to them.

Good luck - it's a miserable thing to happen to a holiday when you have limited time and just want a relaxing holiday together.

Hoping that they see sense and give you a refund.

I'm guessing that you don't want to go to the papers or Watchdog or similar - but might be worth dropping a question on something like the moneysavingexpert website where they might pick up on the question and do an article about what your rights are on a holiday situation like this which would help.

I'm sorry I'm so tired today. Shall I try and put it back to my original name? I was fiddling in settings as I'm on an iPhone and it's tiny screen, I was toying with a different name but I obviously gave myself a different name anyhow.

I'll try and change it back.

To repeat myself: I have no idea, Myrtle, that's why I asked.

Yes, a name-change fail is possible. And yes, there have been shit-stirring imposters on MN in the past. Either case could be correct. I guess we'll find out sooner or later.

That was easier than I thought. Name is as it was.

OP how have you got on today? have you at least enjoyed your activities?

Has the Daily Fail been in touch yet Mumbles? tweet them and it will be sorted in no time

Thanks op
It's hard to follow a thread when the op changes name as it's no longer highlighted

I cancelled some activities as I'm not a great with no sleep. I've rebooked them for Friday in the hope we will still be here.
It's a beautiful sunny day at least.

This is absolutely appalling.

CP know perfectly well that giving you a refund is not the answer: obviously NOW is when you have time off work & school!

They need to find you a new villa, away from the bloody noise!!

terrible publicity for them. keep badgering op - what an outrageous way to treat paying guests.

Peakyblinder, the works are to finish mid August and we are right at the back of the dome. Hopefully you'll be ok x

This is a disgrace!
I think the poster upthread who is heading there next week should email asking for clarification on the noise as a guest's complaint and video is all over social media.

That can only help the op.

Where is the video Tumblethumps I would like to check it out and then yes I will email them before we go !!!

Hope the CEO sorts it out for you. What a mess on your holiday :-(